Utah’s Pac-12 Player of the Year is returning for final run
SALT LAKE CITY (BVM) – She’s back.
Utah outside hitter Dani Drews announced her return on Friday for one final season with the Utes. An NCAA COVID-19 season of competition waiver granted by the Division I Council in the fall for all participating student-athletes in the 2020-21 season will allow Drews another opportunity to break a program record.
“I had a meeting with Coach Beth and in my mind it just clicked that it doesn’t make sense not to take advantage of this huge opportunity,” Drews said in a press release. “I think college only lasts so long, and I kept thinking that having an extra season is something most athletes would kill for. I truly love this team and have so much fun competing and working hard with them. I want to be here now and have one last really good season.”
Drews is the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year, Utah volleyball’s first ever, and earned Pacific South Region Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season along with AVCA first team All-American honors.
We have some big news this morning. DANI IS COMING BACK THIS FALL!#UteStrong pic.twitter.com/ATbWeh8Twd
— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) April 30, 2021
“We’re very happy that Dani has chosen to return for her senior season,” head coach Beth Launiere said in a press release. “She is a special player and even more of a special person. Dani is a committed, loyal team player who wants to finish her career with her teammates, and in the Utah program that she has been such an integral part of for the last four years.”
An extra season might allow Drews to attain a program record: Utah’s all-time kills mark. The senior is second in Utah program history with 1,687 kills. Drews has also collected three All-American awards and been named All-Region and All-Pac-12 for the past three seasons.
The Utes have appeared in two Sweet 16 appearances under Drews’ leadership.
“This group is so bought into everything we want a good team culture to be,” Drews said in a press release. “We all love each other and respect each other and are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best team we can be. I can’t wait to be back for another season competing in front of all of our fans in the Huntsman Center.”
